Carbonated beverage appliance

ABSTRACT

A carbonated beverage appliance in accordance with the present invention includes a housing and a carbonating head assembly configured to releasably engage a top end of a bottle containing a liquid to be carbonated. The bottle is engaged with the head assembly in a manner so as to provide a liquid and gas-tight seal. A tube is arranged in the housing for directing a flow of pressurized gas from a gas cylinder to the liquid within the bottle to produce a carbonated beverage. The carbonated beverage appliance includes a quick-connect mechanism for attaching a gas cylinder to the appliance, and a dispensing mechanism for the on-demand dispensing of a carbonated beverage from the bottle while it is attached to the appliance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/545,748, filed on Oct. 11, 2011, which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to devices for aerating liquidsand, more particularly, to an apparatus for making carbonated beverages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various devices exist for carbonating liquids to prepared carbonatedbeverages. With known devices, the liquid to be carbonated is placedinto a bottle and the bottle is loaded into a carbonating machine. Aseal member is adapted to engage and seal closed the neck of the bottle,while a tube terminating in a gas injecting nozzle extends through theseal member and down into the bottle for injecting carbon dioxide gasinto the liquid contained in the bottle. The upper end of the gas tubeis connected to a fixed or removable gas cylinder via a valve which isoperable to supply gas to the injection nozzle. In order to limit themaximum pressure within the bottle an exhaust passage is providedthrough the seal member and communicates with atmosphere through arelief valve which is configured to open when the maximum pressure isexceeded.

While existing devices are generally suitable for what is regarded asordinary performance, there is room for improvement in terms offlexibility, ease of use and the like. In particular, known devices mayonly be utilized to produce a carbonated beverage within the bottle,which is then capped, for later consumption. Moreover, existing devicesare often cumbersome to configure and operate, especially when replacingthe carbon dioxide gas cylinder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carbonatedbeverage-making appliance having an on-demand beverage-dispensingfeature.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a carbonatedbeverage-making appliance having a gas cylinder attachment mechanismthat permits quick, easy and secure attachment of a pressurized gascylinder.

These and other objects are achieved by the present invention.

A carbonated beverage appliance in accordance with the present inventionincludes a housing and a carbonating head assembly configured toreleasably engage a top end of a bottle containing a liquid to becarbonated. The bottle is engaged with the head assembly in a manner soas to provide a liquid and gas-tight seal. A tube is arranged in thehousing for directing a flow of pressurized gas from a gas cylinder tothe liquid within the bottle to produce a carbonated beverage. Thecarbonated beverage appliance includes a quick-connect mechanism forattaching a gas cylinder to the appliance, and a dispensing mechanismfor the on-demand dispensing of a carbonated beverage from the bottlewhile it is attached to the appliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from reading thefollowing description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to theattached drawings, wherein below:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carbonated beverage applianceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the carbonated beverageappliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the carbonated beverage applianceof FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front, right side perspective view of the carbonatedbeverage appliance of FIG. 1 with a portion of the exterior housingremoved.

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the carbonated beverageappliance of FIG. 1 with a portion of the exterior housing removed.

FIG. 6 is a rear, right side perspective view of the carbonated beverageappliance of FIG. 1 with a portion of the exterior housing removed.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged rear, right side perspective view of the interiorcomponents of the carbonated beverage appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a gas cylinder according to anembodiment of the present invention, for use with the carbonatedbeverage appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of the gas cylinder of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the gas cylinder ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a right side, cross-sectional view of the carbonated beverageappliance of FIG. 1 with the exterior housing removed and somecomponents shown in cross-section.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a bottle/carbonatinghead connection of the carbonated beverage appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a gas cylinderquick-connect mechanism of the carbonated beverage appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a front, left side perspective view of the carbonatedbeverage appliance of FIG. 1 with the exterior housing removed and somecomponents shown in cross-section.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged front, left side perspective view of the interiorcomponents of the carbonated beverage appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged front, left side perspective view of the interiorcomponents of the carbonated beverage appliance of FIG. 1, some of whichare shown in cross-section.

FIGS. 17, 18, and 19 illustrate various dispensing tube storagelocations on the carbonated beverage appliance of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, a carbonated beverage appliance 10according to an embodiment of the present invention is generallyconstructed and operates in a manner similar to existing carbonatedbeverage making appliances, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,209,378, 4,610,282 and 4,399,081, which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the carbonatedbeverage appliance 10 includes a generally rectangular housing 12 and adrip tray base 14 removably attached to the housing 12. The drip tray 14has a slotted or grated top surface 16 that permits liquid that may bespilled to pass through the surface 16 and collect in the drip tray 14for easy cleanup. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the appliance 10 furtherincludes a bottle-receiving mechanism, shown as a carbonating headassembly 18. The carbonating head assembly 18 is accessible from anunderside of a top portion of the housing 12 and is configured toreleasably receive a bottle 20. As shown therein, the carbonating headassembly 18 is located directly above the drip tray 14.

The bottle 20, containing liquid to be carbonated or aerated, isreleasably engageable with the carbonating head assembly 18 and is heldin engagement with the head assembly 18 by means of an external thread22 provided on the bottle 20 which engages an internal thread 24provided in the head assembly 18, although other engagement means knownin the art may also be utilized without departing from the broaderaspects of the present invention. The threaded engagement of the bottle20 with the carbonating head assembly 18 is best shown in FIGS. 12 and14. To install or remove a bottle 20 from the appliance 10, a usersimply rotates the bottle 20 with respect to the head assembly 18.

As further shown in FIG. 12, the neck of the bottle 20 may include aflange 26 for limiting the distance by which the bottle screws into thecarbonating head assembly 18. When fully screwed in or engaged by thehead assembly 18, the open top end of the bottle contacts an elastomericgasket 28, preferably made of rubber or other similar material, withsufficient pressure to create a gas and fluid tight seal. As will bereadily appreciated, a gas and fluid tight seal is necessary topressurize the bottle, as discussed hereinafter.

The carbonating head assembly 18 accommodates a carbonating tube 30which extends through the gasket 28, against which the top end of thebottle 20 is engaged, and down into the bottle 20. At its lower end, thetube 30 is provided with a nozzle 32. The upper end of the tube 30 isthreaded into an upper part of the carbonating head 18, which is influid communication with a bore 34 of a gas cylinder attachment head 36.

As shown in the drawings, the gas cylinder attachment head 36 isaccessible from the rear of the housing by removing a gas cylindercompartment cover 38 that forms a part of the housing 12. As shown inFIG. 13, and as discussed in detail hereinafter, the gas cylinderattachment head 36 and provides a quick-connect mechanism for attachingand detaching a gas cylinder 40 to the appliance 10. In particular, asshown therein, a gas cylinder 40 containing pressurized gas, such asCO₂, is releasably engaged with the cylinder attachment head 36 suchthat an outlet of the cylinder 40 is in fluid communication with thebore 34 of the cylinder attachment head 36 and, in turn, with the nozzle32 of the carbonating tube 30 such that a pressurized gas flow pathwayis created from the gas cylinder 40 to the interior of the bottle 20.The cylinder attachment head 36 includes a spring-biased plunger 42operatively connected to a gas valve-actuating lever 44. In operation,actuation of the lever 44 causes the plunger 42 to move downwards intocontact with a pin 46 of a gas valve assembly 48 positioned in the neckof the gas cylinder 40. Further downwards movement of the plunger 42moves the pin 46 downwards, thereby opening the gas valve and causingpressurized gas to be released from the gas cylinder 40.

The gas-valve actuating lever 44 is movable from a raised position, inwhich the valve assembly is not actuated, to a lowered position, inwhich the valve assembly is actuated to release pressurized gas from thecylinder 40, in a manner known in the art. In particular, lowering ofthe lever 44 permits gas to pass from the cylinder 40 through the bore34 of the cylinder attachment head 36, through the tube 30, and into thebottle 20 containing the liquid to be carbonated. The lever may 44 bebiased towards its raised position so that when a user releases thelever the gas valve assembly 48 is automatically closed to stem the flowof gas from the cylinder 40. In an embodiment, the valve assembly may beprovided with a safety device, such as a pressure relief valve, torelease excess pressure in the gas cylinder 40.

The gas cylinder attachment head 36 and the gas cylinder 40 areimportant aspects of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 8-10, thegas cylinder 40 for use with the appliance 10 is generally cylindricalin shape and includes a main body portion 50 and a neck portion 52. Theneck portion 52 includes a circumferential groove 54 formed in the outerperiphery thereof. As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the interior of theneck 52 is configured to receive the gas valve 48 assembly, includingpin 46. The circumferential groove 48 formed in the neck 46 of thecylinder 40 is configured to be received by a complimentary flange 56 ofthe gas cylinder attachment head 36, as shown in FIG. 16. As will bereadily appreciated, a user may simply push the gas cylinder 40 intoengagement within the attachment head 36 to secure it to the appliance10. After the cylinder 40 is empty, a user may simply pull on thecylinder 40 to remove it from the appliance 10. As will be readilyappreciated, the non-threaded engagement means of the gas cylinderattachment head 36 provides a quick-connect mechanism. Importantly, thisquick-connect design of the attachment head 36 and gas cylinder 40allows a user to quickly and easily connect and disconnect a CO₂cylinder 40 from the appliance 10. This is in contrast to existingdevices that utilize threaded-neck gas cylinders. With existingappliances utilizing threaded cylinders, a user must rotate the cylinderto secure it to the appliance, which may be tedious and time consuming.

As generally discussed above, the plunger 42 is movable from theposition shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 into contact with the pin 46 of thegas valve assembly 48 upon downwards movement of the valve-actuatinglever 44. During operation of the lever 44, the plunger 42 depresses thepin 46 to release compressed gas from the gas cylinder 40. Thecompressed gas is then injected into the liquid within the bottle 20through the carbonating tube 30 to produce a carbonated beverage. Aswill be readily appreciated, carbonation of the liquid within the bottle20 is not limited to the manner disclosed herein and may be accomplishedby any means known in the art.

Turning now to FIGS. 11, 12 and 14-16, the carbonated beverage appliance10 also includes a mechanism that allows for the on-demand dispensing ofa carbonated beverage from the bottle 20, once carbonated, into a cup orglass (not shown). In particular, as best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, theon-demand dispensing mechanism includes a connection 58, forming a partof the carbonating head assembly 18, for accommodating a detachable tube60. In an embodiment, the connection 58 comprises a quick-connectmechanism for releasably retaining the detachable tube 60. For example,as best shown in FIG. 12, the connection 58 may be a ball detent typeconnection. When connected, the detachable tube 60 extends from theconnection 58 of the carbonating head assembly 18 to the bottom of thebottle 20.

As shown in FIGS. 11, 12, 14 and 16, a fluid flow pathway 62 is formedfrom the connection 58 to an external wall of the housing 12. Adispensing arm 64 having an outlet 66 is pivotally coupled to theappliance 10 and in fluid communication with the fluid flow pathway 62.As best shown in FIG. 16, a valve assembly 68 is positioned within thefluid flow pathway 62 to control the flow of liquid therethrough. In thepreferred embodiment, the valve assembly 68 includes a spring-biasedplunger 70. The plunger 70 is normally biased by a spring 72 to a closedstate to prevent liquid from passing through the valve assembly 68 andinto the dispensing arm 64. As best shown in FIG. 16, however, theappliance 10 also includes a depressible button 74 located on the top ofthe housing 12. The button 74 includes a downwardly depending leg 76positioned directly above the plunger 70 of the valve assembly 68. Whenthe button 74 is depressed, the depending leg 76 contacts the plunger 74of the valve assembly 68 and moves the plunger 74 downward against thespring bias. This downward movement of the plunger 74 causes the valveassembly 68 to open, thereby allowing carbonated liquid from the bottle20 to pass through the valve assembly 68, through the dispensing arm 64,out of the outlet 66 and into a glass.

In an embodiment, the button 74 is also in operative communication withthe plunger 42 of the gas cylinder attachment head 36 such that when thebutton 74 is depressed, pressurized gas flows from the gas cylinder 40into the bottle 20 to maintain carbonation of the liquid therein andalso to generate enough pressure within the bottle 20 to force thecarbonated liquid from the bottle, up through the detachable tube 60 andout of the dispensing arm 64.

As discussed above, in an embodiment, the dispensing arm 64 is pivotallyattached to the housing 12 so that a user can selectively position thearm 66 to dispense a carbonated beverage from the bottle 20. In otherembodiments, the dispensing arm may be internal to the housing 12.

In operation, a user may carbonate the liquid contained in the bottle byactivating the lever 44 to dispense pressurized gas from the gascylinder 40, as discussed above. Once the liquid in the bottle has beencarbonated, a user can remove the bottle 20 from the appliance and capthe bottle 20, or alternatively, dispense a single serving into anexternal cup or glass by depressing the button 74 on the top of theappliance 10. The dispensing of carbonated liquid from the bottle 20 iseffectuated by simple displacement utilizing CO₂ to push the carbonatedliquid up through the detachable tube 60 and out of the nozzle 66 of thedispensing arm 64 when the valve assembly 68 is opened. In particular,depression of the button 74 on the top of the appliance 10 causes thevalve 68 to open, and the pressure from the gas cylinder 40 pushes thecarbonated liquid up through the tube 60 and out of the dispensingnozzle 66.

As will be readily appreciated, the appliance 10 of the presentinvention therefore allows for the on-demand dispensing of a carbonatedbeverage from the bottle 20.

Referring to FIGS. 17-19 the detachable tube 60 may be removed from theconnection 58 when not in use and stored within the appliance 10. Inparticular, as shown in FIG. 17, the detachable tube 60 may be storedunderneath the drip tray 14. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, thedetachable tube 60 may be stored within the rear of the appliance 10,which is accessible by removing the back cover 38. In anotherembodiment, the detachable tube 60 may be stored within a recess formedwithin the housing 12, as shown in FIG. 19.

Importantly, the carbonated beverage appliance 10 of the presentinvention is compact and is therefore portable and suitable forhousehold, countertop use. As discussed above, the quick connectmechanism for the gas cylinder allows a user to quickly and easilydetach and attach a gas cylinder containing pressurized carbon dioxideto the appliance, in contrast to existing devices which require tediousrotation of the gas cylinder to effect threaded engagement of thecylinder. Moreover, as discussed above, the appliance includes anon-demand dispensing mechanism for dispensing a carbonated beverage fromthe bottle while it is still coupled to the appliance. This is incontrast to existing devices which require the bottle to be removed fromthe device prior to dispensing a carbonated beverage therefrom. As willbe readily appreciated, therefore, the appliance of the presentinvention affords greater flexibility in terms of carbonated beveragedispensing and storage.

Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to thedetailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill inthe art that various changes may be made and equivalents may besubstituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of theinvention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings of the invention withoutdeparting from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intendedthat the invention not be limited to the particular embodimentsdisclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carbonated beverage appliance, comprising: ahousing; a carbonating head assembly within said housing and configuredto releasably receive a bottle containing a liquid to be carbonated,said carbonating head assembly including a carbonating tube having aninlet for receiving pressurized gas from a canister of pressurized gasand an outlet for injecting said pressurized gas into said liquid to becarbonated; a gas cylinder head assembly within said housing and beingin fluid communication with said carbonating head assembly, said gascylinder head assembly including a non-threaded engagement means forreleasably receiving said canister of pressurized gas; a lever foractivating the flow of pressurized gas from said canister of pressurizedgas to said carbonating head; and an on-demand dispensing mechanismconfigured for selectively dispensing carbonated liquid from said bottlewhile said bottle is received by said carbonating head assembly.
 2. Thecarbonated beverage appliance of claim 1, wherein: said on-demanddispensing mechanism includes a dispensing tube releasably attached tosaid carbonating head assembly, a dispensing pathway in fluidcommunication with said dispensing tube, a first valve assemblypositioned along said dispensing pathway and controllable between aclosed state and an open state, and a dispensing arm in fluidcommunication with said dispensing pathway.
 3. The carbonated beverageappliance of claim 2, further comprising: a dispensing button moveablefrom a first position in which said first valve assembly is in saidclosed state to a second position in which said button controls saidfirst valve assembly to said open state; wherein when in said open statecarbonated liquid flows from said bottle attached to said carbonatinghead assembly, through said dispensing pathway and out of saiddispensing arm.
 4. The carbonated beverage appliance of claim 1, furthercomprising: a second valve assembly controllable between a closed state,in which pressurized gas is not permitted to flow from said canister ofpressurized gas to said carbonating head assembly, and an open state, inwhich pressurized gas is permitted to flow from said canister to saidcarbonating head assembly and into said bottle through said outlet ofsaid carbonating tube upon activation of said lever.
 5. The carbonatedbeverage appliance of claim 1, wherein: said carbonating head assemblyincludes a threaded engagement means for threadedly receiving saidbottle.
 6. A carbonated beverage appliance, comprising: a housing; acarbonating head assembly within said housing and configured toreleasably receive a bottle containing a liquid to be carbonated; and agas cylinder head assembly within said housing, said gas cylinder headassembly including a non-threaded engagement means for releasablyreceiving a canister of pressurized gas; wherein said canister ofpressurized gas has a neck having an annular groove; and wherein saidgas cylinder head assembly includes a flange adapted to engage saidannular groove to releasably retain said canister.
 7. A carbonatedbeverage appliance, comprising: a housing; a carbonating head assemblywithin said housing and configured to releasably receive a bottlecontaining a liquid to be carbonated; a gas cylinder head assemblywithin said housing, said gas cylinder head assembly including anon-threaded engagement means for releasably receiving a canister ofpressurized gas; and an on-demand dispensing mechanism configured forselectively dispensing carbonated liquid from said bottle while saidbottle is received by said carbonating head assembly.
 8. The carbonatedbeverage appliance of claim 7, wherein: said gas is carbon dioxide. 9.The carbonated beverage appliance of claim 7, wherein: said on-demanddispensing mechanism includes a dispensing tube releasably attached tosaid carbonating head assembly, a dispensing pathway in fluidcommunication with said dispensing tube, a first valve assemblypositioned along said dispensing pathway and controllable between aclosed state and an open state, and a dispensing arm in fluidcommunication with said dispensing pathway.
 10. The carbonated beverageappliance of claim 9, wherein: said carbonating head assembly includes acarbonating tube having an inlet for receiving pressurized gas from saidcanister of pressurized gas and an outlet for injecting said pressurizedgas into said liquid to be carbonated.
 11. The carbonated beverageappliance of claim 10, further comprising: a dispensing button moveablefrom a first position in which said first valve assembly is in saidclosed state to a second position in which said button controls saidvalve assembly to said open state; wherein when in said open statecarbonated liquid flows from said bottle attached to said carbonatinghead assembly, through said dispensing pathway and out of saiddispensing arm.